Electromechanics of Bioinspired Switchable-Surface Nanocomposites

壁虎可以迅速打开和关闭脚的附着力，防止它们在尘土飞扬的墙壁上奔跑时被污染，而一些沙漠甲虫可以用它们的前翼从雾中收集饮用水。模仿这些自然表面可以产生具有独特功能的新型材料，用于许多应用。在这个项目中，综合实验和计算方法将综合再现所需的生物特征，以创建一类具有可调粘性和自清洁特性的新型纳米复合材料。预期的长期研究成果是开发下一代工程材料的技术平台，这些材料可能用于自清洁、传感、纳米操作和组装，以及极端干旱地区的集水等。这项研究涉及多个学科，包括力学、材料科学、生物学和纳米技术。多学科平台将为代表性不足的群体提供参与高级研究的机会。同样，将支持本科生研究奖学金，为工程专业学生提供广泛的教育和技能。在这个项目中，将通过模仿壁虎脚垫和甲虫前翅上的生物结构的独特特征，制造出具有可调粘附和自清洁能力的新型仿生皱纹石墨烯纳米复合材料。将使用多尺度原子和微观力学建模方法来解释实验结果，并解决如何将仿生特征转化为增强的可切换性，自清洁和控制释放能力。我们将使用先进的显微镜工具和高速率图像捕获来测量粘附力和变形，并开发基于物理的建模方法来了解仿生薄膜的电力学。将模型和实验相结合，将纳米级现象与宏观性能联系起来。本研究结果将为新型智能材料的设计和开发具有独特性能特征的具有实际意义的材料提供基础性的理解和开关机制。

Geckos can rapidly turn on and off the adhesive force of their feet and keep them from fouling during running on dusty walls, while some desert beetles can use their forewings to collect drinking water from fog. Mimicking these natural surfaces could result in novel materials with unique capabilities for numerous applications. In this project, an integrated experimental and computational approach will synthetically reproduce the desired biological features to create a new class of nanocomposites with tunable stickiness and self-cleaning characteristics. The anticipated long-term research outcome is a technical platform for developing the next generation of engineered materials, potentially useful for self-cleaning, sensing, nano-manipulation and assembly, and water harvesting in extremely arid regions, to mention a few. This research involves several disciplines including mechanics, materials science, biology, and nanotechnology. The multi-disciplinary platform will provide opportunities for underrepresented groups to participate in advanced research. Similarly, undergraduate research fellowships will be supported to provide exposure to engineering students to wide-ranging education and skills.In this project, new biomimetic wrinkle graphene-based nanocomposites with tunable adhesion and self-cleaning capabilities will be fabricated by mimicking the unique features of the biological structures found on gecko footpads and beetle forewings. A multiscale atomistic and micromechanics modeling approach will be used to interpret experimental results and to address how the biomimetic features can be translated into enhanced switchability, self-cleaning, and controlled release capabilities. The adhesive force and deformations will be measured with advanced microscopy tools and high-rate image capture, and a physics-based modeling approach will be developed to understand electromechanics of the biomimetic thin films. The modeling and experiments will be integrated to link the nanoscale phenomena to macroscopic performance. The results of this research will provide novel smart materials and a fundamental understanding of switching mechanisms for the design and development of the materials with unique performance features of practical significance.